Bangkok--26 Aug--Hill & Knowlton Thailand
Microsoft readies Thai consumers for Windows 7 with upgrades from Vista to Windows 7 for new PC purchases Customers who purchase a new PC now eligible for upgrades to the new Windows 7 operating system
Microsoft Thailand has announced the introduction of a Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program that is enabling Thai consumers and small businesses to receive Windows 7 when they purchase a qualifying Windows Vista personal computer as of now. Under the program, designated PCs pre-installed with premium versions of Windows Vista will qualify for licenses of the equivalent Windows 7 product.
“There is already a lot of anticipation surrounding Windows 7 in the marketplace today. However, many consumers need a new Windows PC for school, work or home before the new operating system’s general availability later this year,” said Patama Chantaruck, Managing Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited. “As such, any customer who buys a PC from a participating computer manufacturer, such as Acer, Asustek, DELL, Hewlett Packard, Ingram Micro, SVOA and Synnex — or a copy of Windows Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate - will also receive an upgrade to the corresponding version of Windows 7.”
The initiative is a consumer-oriented program designed to support individual consumers and small businesses that have purchased eligible PCs.
Under the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program, the following Windows Vista versions will correspond to the following Windows 7 upgrade equivalents:
- Windows Vista Home Premium Windows 7 Home Premium
- Windows Vista Business Windows 7 Professional
- Windows Vista Ultimate Windows 7 Ultimate
“The Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program enables our OEM and Retail partners to provide extra value to their customers and ensure they don’t miss out on Windows 7 when it launches,” continued Patama Chantaruck. “The message we are sharing with them is that customers can now start getting ready for Windows 7 by simply joining this Upgrade Option Program that is now easily accessible from participating retailers and PC manufacturers.”
Local IT Industry voices support
“The imminent arrival of Windows 7 is creating much excitement in the market and many of our customers are waiting for its general availability. However, the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program offers consumers a great solution for them to buy a copy of Windows now, without having to wait until the end of this year,” said Mr. Alan Chiang, General Manager, Acer Computer Company Limited.
“After personally trying out Windows 7, I can say that this new operating system is a joy to use — not only in terms of ease-of-use, but also thanks to its features that support today’s full range of business and multimedia uses. Moreover, we have found Windows 7 to be fully compatible with our own ASUS technology and we are committed to develop new innovations for the Windows platform. Indeed Microsoft and ASUS have been partnering for a long time and we have plans to launch our ‘U Series’ of ASUS notebooks that will allow Acer to bring the Windows 7 experience to our customers,” said Mr. Pornthep Watchara-Amnouy, Managing Director of Asustek Computer Thailand Limited.
“Many customers fear that migrating to a new OS can be time-consuming and complicated, but Dell is already helping customers realize the benefits of upgrading to Microsoft Windows 7 through our tight integration with Microsoft. We have spent literally thousands of engineering hours to help develop and test Windows 7 on the Dell platform as it is our job to make the process as easy as possible for the customer - to help them do what they want to do without thinking about how to do it,” said Anothai Wettayakorn, Managing Director, Dell Corporation (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
“As part of our efforts to meet customers’ computing needs while still protecting their investments, HP is participating in this Upgrade Option Program to help our customers make an easy transition to Windows 7. We see it as a way to reward our new Vista Home Premium (and above) customers since it will enable those who purchase qualifying HP PCs to enjoy the benefits of a new Windows PC immediately,” said Mr. Prasert Charoonpaisal, General Manager, Personal Systems Group, Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) Ltd.
“The Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program is providing a great opportunity for customers who purchase new copies of Windows Vista to enjoy the benefits of a Windows OS right away and still be Windows 7 ready,” said Mr. Clement Mak, Managing Director, Ingram Micro (Thailand) Limited.
“As a leading hardware brand in Thailand, SVOA is ready to offer the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program to our customers. We feel that the program will help SVOA to sell more units since it will maintain excitement within the local PC market — that is to say that customers who want to buy a SVOA PC or notebook preinstalled with genuine Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Business today, can do so without worrying about missing out on Windows 7 when it becomes available later this year,” said Mr. Vira Intanate Chief Executive Officer SVOA Public Company Limited.
“The Windows 7 Upgrade Option has been designed to help those customers buying Windows Vista Home Premium (or above SKU), so that they can prepare for the new Windows operating system and still receive the full benefits of Windows 7 when they migrate over to it,” said Mr. Anuchit Boonyalux, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Synnex (Thailand) Public Company Limited.
The Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program is available now and will last until no later than January 31st, 2010. The upgrade offers will vary by PC manufacturer and retailer. For more information on the program details, including availability and costs to consumers, please contact participating OEM or retailers and resellers or alternatively visit the Microsoft (Thailand) website at: http://www.microsoft.com/thailand/windows/buy/offers/upgrade.aspx.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Established in 1993, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited provides world-class software that is easy to use and localized to suit the local market’s needs. It also has a compelling and consistent platform to build powerful business solutions that can scale from a notebook computer to a mainframe — class multiprocessor systems using Microsoft technology. For further information, information, please visit the Microsoft (Thailand) website at: http://www.microsoft.com/thailand.
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For further information, please contact:
Suphada Chaiwong
Hill & Knowlton Thailand
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